Sorry for the length of time it took to get this chapter up. I've been really busy at home, and working on a couple more fics as well. I would ask that if you like this story and wish to comment, please don't turn it into a political debate. The people who have recently had their mothers, fathers, brothers, classmates and friends killed, and lost EVERYTHING probably don't give a damn about democrats, republicans, or the turmoil our leaders in THIS country have gotten us all into! This is a story about tragedy and hope, friendship and overcoming a terrible calamity. Not about political and religious ideology. I personally have no love for EITHER, and don't side with anyone. Arguing about politics and religion is nothing short of two baboons having an over-evolved close-minded ideological fecal-fight. I, like most people who have actually been SHOT at don't care about politics. I care about humanity. About LIFE. I only care that I have food for tomorrow, those in need are helped, and justice prevails.

Sorry for the rant. Please enjoy the latest chapter, posted for all those who have been touched by this fic. And let's not forget the reason for this story, and keep them all in our thoughts.

The six people crammed into Yukari's car drove toward the epicenter of the disaster, unsure of what might greet them once they arrived. They had left Chiyo behind. Miss Yukari and Kagura didn't think that she should see what the five remaining girls and their teacher might experience. She was too young. Leaving their companion behind had been heartbreaking.

"You shouldn't come, Chiyo-Chan." Kagura had said.

"But why not?" Chiyo protested. "I want to help Osaka too!" Miss Yukari knelt in front of her.

"Chiyo…" Yukari said gently, "where we're going…you don't need to go. The things we might…we don't want you to get hurt. You understand, right?" Chiyo just nodded. She ran up to Osaka, and hugged her tightly, and told her to not be afraid. She told Osaka that she cared about her, and wanted her to call if she needed anything. The others had to wipe tears from their eyes.

Full fledged post-apocalyptic wasteland. That was the view from the car as Osaka, Kagura, Sakaki, Yomi and Tomo viewed the horrors of a devastated landscape from car. The police officer was explaining to Miss Yukari that he could not permit motor vehicles any further. He motioned past the emergency vehicles, toward the road ahead. With all the debris, and whole portions of the road itself missing, it looked as though a bulldozer couldn't get through anyway.

"I guess we walk from here, guys." Kagura said. Miss Yukari backed up, and pulled the car onto the shoulder of the road. They climbed out, and as the girls looked out silently over the landscape ahead, Yukari explained to the police officer that they were searching for a missing couple, and needed through. The officer looked around as if unsure of what to do.

"It's…it's for your own safety. You can't go on any further." The officer stated.

"Look…" Tomo began, "our friend there has no idea whether or not her parents are alive, and we're going to search every shelter, every hospital, every nook and cranny in northern Japan until we find them, whether you like it or not!" The officer looked around again.

"Yeah…go on." He said. "Just…be careful."

"You got it." Yukari said, leading the girls past. The girls stopped and turned. Osaka was still standing beside the car, staring blankly at the damage ahead.

"Um…Osaka?" Yomi asked, walking back to Osaka. Tomo and Sakaki looked at each other worriedly. "Are you…okay?" Osaka didn't answer. She seemed entranced. The others walked back to Osaka. Tomo grabbed her shoulder and shook her.

"Hey, Osaka, snap out of it!" Tomo said.

"Huh? Oh." Osaka replied. She turned away, and sniffled. "I…I don't think I can do it."

"We've come too far to turn back now." Yomi said. "Your parents are still out there somewhere."

"I know." Osaka replied.

"Then we have to keep going." Tomo said.

"Guys?" Osaka asked.

"Yeah?" Tomo replied.

"What is it?" Sakaki asked.

"Why are you guys doing this for me?"

"Because we love you, Osaka-Chan!" Tomo said.

"Yeah, you're our friend," Yomi agreed. "We'd do anything to help you. That's what friends are for." Osaka smiled, despite the tears in her eyes.

"And you are without a doubt one of the most…memorable students I've ever had." Miss Yukari smiled.

"Thanks, guys." Osaka said. She inhaled deeply and sighed. "I guess we should go. My mom and dad are probably real worried about me."

"I'm sure they are." Sakaki said. They walked past the road block, toward the unknown. Miss Yukari quickened her pace, and walked beside Kagura.

"What about you?" Yukari asked, keeping her voice low.

"Hm?" Kagura replied.

"You've been really quiet through all of this, but you act like this is some kind of personal crusade or something. What's up with that?"

"It's just…" Kagura began, "…a girl like her…I mean…anyone shouldn't have to go through this…but I don't want to see someone so…"

"Innocent." Yukari said.

"Yeah…innocent." Kagura said. "Someone so innocent and good natured as Ayumu suffering like this…It's like watching someone step on a flower, you know?" She looked down as she walked. "It's just not fair."

"No." Yukari agreed. "I guess that's why I wanted to help too."

They walked seemingly forever, the sight growing more and more tragic. People dug through rubble, while others walked, almost like zombies, with bags or armloads of personal possessions. Emergency crews were everywhere the further the group went into what was once a town. Every time they saw a small group of them carrying a heavy white bag, they turned their heads, and tried not to look. They talked with every police officer, paramedic and fire fighter who wasn't distracted, showing them the photograph of Osaka's parents. It was always the same; they just shook their heads and went back to what they were doing.

"You may try at one of the shelters." One officer said. "But they are very disorderly right now."

"Try the hospital. They took many survivors from this area there." A paramedic said.

"No, the hospital has been evacuated." Yet another officer told them. "They were all moved to the shelter to the west of town."

They walked on, getting the same responses. Everything was confused. Everything was chaos. The few survivors who remained in the ruins were ragged. Some had bandages wrapped around their arms or heads. They passed a mother and her young son, wandering toward an ambulance in the distance.

"I'm hungry, mama." The young child whined. Yomi looked at them. The boy couldn't be over 5 years old. She fished through her small bag, and produced a box of pocky.

"Here." The girl said with a smile, giving the boy the box. The boy's mother smiled, and tears fell down her cheeks.

"Thank you. Thank you so much! Oh, thank you." The woman said repeatedly. Yomi blushed.

"It's nothing, ma'am." Yomi said. They walked on what would have been another block, when suddenly Osaka stopped.

"It was here…somewhere, I'm sure of it." She said.

"What, your aunt's house?" Yukari asked.

"Yeah…it was…It's gone…but it was…oh god…" She began breathing heavily, then shaking. She began hyperventilating, and started to fall. Sakaki saw what was happening, and took her by the shoulders.

"Calm down! Just breathe Osaka!" Sakaki commanded. She shook Osaka gently. "Don't! Just focus!" The others watched, unable to help their friend. Kagura turned away, wiping tears from her eyes. "Osaka!" Sakaki exclaimed. Osaka began breathing slower. She looked into Sakaki's eyes. "Good. Now calm down, okay? You're okay. It's all gonna be okay." Osaka fell into Sakaki and began weeping on her shoulder. Sakaki didn't know what more to do. She held Osaka until the girl regained enough of her composure to continue on.

Near the remains of a large nearby building, a team of emergency workers were busily digging through rubble. An official-looking man in a helmet was barking out orders to the other men.

"Stay here." Yukari said. The girls watched her jog over to the man, and begin talking to him, pointing, and showing him the photo. The man pointed toward the men clearing the debris, and began gesturing helplessly.

Osaka wandered a few yards away, looking around at the tangled masses of former buildings, the pools of dirty seawater standing in any depression or low area, at the cars perched in impossible places, in trees, on houses that were somehow still standing. She began to wonder how the car got on top of the house…

"Help…" She heard a voice call. It sounded distant and muffled. Osaka looked for the source of the cry. "Please…" She heard it call. Something made her look down. A few feet away, a piece of wall was moving gently. Osaka moved closer, and knelt down. She took the edge of the piece of plaster in her hands, and lifted it. A woman lay buried in the wreckage, only her hand was sticking out from between two wooden beams.

"OH!" Osaka gasped. "Um…guys! Hey, there's somebody over here!" The girls came running. Immediately, Sakaki and Kagura seized the piece of wall and carried it out of the way. They and Tomo began trying to clear some of the rubble. The emergency crew saw what was happening, and moved quickly to help the girls.

"Osaka…" Yomi said, standing beside Osaka, and placing a hand on her shoulder. "…you just saved someone's life."

"I…I did?" Osaka said softly. "I guess I did, huh?" The rescue crew carefully pulled a young woman from the pile of wood and masonry.

"Mm hmm." Yomi answered.

"We have to get this woman medical attention!" The man in the helmet called to the group. "If you want a ride to the shelter…you may find who you're looking for there."

"Come on, hero." Tomo said to Osaka with a smile. "Maybe your parents are at the shelter."